David Pisoni asked if Premier was politically motivated to seek advice

ABC News

The Opposition has accused the South Australian Government of planning unprecedented representations to the Parole Board about releasing a man from custody.

Opposition education spokesman David Pisoni said Freedom of Information documents showed the Attorney-General's office was asked whether representations could be made to the board about its discretion to release the man on parole.

"My understanding is that the paedophile rapist is due for release about one month before the election," he said.

"South Australians would be asking themselves 'Is this move by the Premier's office politically motivated?'

"Premier Weatherill must also tell South Australians whether he knew about this email, whether he was consulted before these inquiries were made and, if not, is it more evidence that ministerial staffers are running the Government and not ministers?"

Mr Weatherill said there was nothing odd about his office making inquiries.

"It was never our intention to make representations from Government, that's generally made by organisations like the police or Correctional Services and the Parole Board usually requests their own information for people or organisations they think are appropriate, so we're simply putting ministers in a position to know how to answer questions should they be asked," he said.

The inmate in question was a key figure in the Debelle investigation of how school abuse cases were dealt with.